Baseball Headline

Thursday June 7, 2007Florida Baseball Undergoes Coaching Change

University of Florida baseball coach Pat McMahon will not return to coach
the Gators next season, Athletics Director Jeremy Foley announced
Thursday.

"After an honest and open evaluation, I felt a change in leadership was
necessary to have the baseball program be in a position to consistently
rank among the nation's best," said Foley. "We certainly appreciate
everything that Pat has done for the program, but it is time to move in a
different direction. We thank him for all of his efforts and wish him the
best of luck in his future endeavors. We will begin a national search
immediately."

McMahon took over the head coaching position at Florida in June of 2001
and compiled a record of 231-143-1 (.617) during his six seasons
directing the Gators. Florida advanced to the NCAA Tournament in four of
six years under his guidance and finished as the runner-up at the 2005
College World Series. During his tenure, UF claimed the first two Super
Regional berths in school history, a pair of Regional Championships and
one SEC crown.

In 2005, McMahon was named the College Baseball Foundation National Coach
of the Year, ABCA South Region of the Year and the SEC Coach of the Year.
There were 61 Academic All-SEC selections at Florida over his first five
seasons (the 2007 recipients have yet to be released) and 31 Major League
Baseball Draft choices, including recent first-round pick Matt
LaPorta.

McMahon arrived at Florida after serving for four years as the head coach
at SEC Western Division rival Mississippi State. While manning the bench
in Starkville, he directed the Bulldogs to a College World Series
appearance in 1998, consecutive NCAA Super Regional berths when the
format changed in 2000 and 2001 and four-straight NCAA Regional berths.
In 2001, the Maroon and White claimed its first SEC Tournament title
since 1990 and reached NCAA Super Regional play for the second season in
a row en route to a 39-24 mark.

From 1983-89, he served as an assistant for Ron Polk, helping the
Bulldogs scale new heights on the diamond. During that seven-year
stretch, Mississippi State enjoyed some of its more memorable moments,
claiming six NCAA Regional berths and securing three College World Series
appearances while hosting five Regionals at Dudy Noble Field. MSU's
powerful 1985 squad, featuring eventual Major League standouts Jeff
Brantley, Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby Thigpen, proved to be one
of the most accomplished teams in college baseball history. The 'Dogs
posted their first-ever 50-plus win season (50-15) en route to a tie for
third place at the College World Series. The 1989 team bettered that mark
with a 54-14 finish, the school’s 10th SEC baseball crown and a runner-up
performance in the NCAA South Regional.

McMahon guided Old Dominion to newfound prominence and levels of success
between 1990-94, including two NCAA Regional appearances, a pair of
school-record 40-plus win seasons and an outstanding 189-86 (.687)
record. During his first season as a collegiate head coach, McMahon was
voted both the Sun Belt Conference and state of Virginia Coach of the
Year in 1990 after piloting ODU to only its second NCAA Regional
appearance. His 1994 edition sported a 40-14 overall mark, seized the
Colonial Athletic Association regular-season title and advanced to the
NCAAs. For his efforts, he was honored as the Coach of the Year by both
the CAA and the state of Virginia.

McMahon Year-By-Year at Florida

Year

Record

Pct.

SEC

Finish

NCAA Tourney

2002

46-19

.708

20-10

2nd-E

3-2 at Regionals

2003

37-21-1

.636

13-16-1

3rd-E

3-2 at Regionals

2004

43-22

.662

17-13

T2nd-E

3-0 at Regionals, 0-2 at Super Regionals

2005

48-23

.676

20-10

1st-E

3-0 at Regonals, 2-0 at Super Regionals, 3-3 at College World Series (runner-up)